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goodthingz founder Gina Johnson, MSW, LCSW, is a co-owner, life/business coach at Blueprint in Urbana, Illinois. She earned her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Illinois and went on to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has advanced training in the areas of Life/Business Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma/Loss Therapy. Gina has 14 years experience helping people of all ages improve the quality of their lives.

Gina feels passionate about helping individuals and businesses realize their potential for growth and helping them achieve their goals. As a life coach, Gina works with individuals to achieve a variety of goals that include, but are not limited to, enhanced self awareness, increased motivation, decreased procrastination, healthy stress management, improved organizational skills, increased self confidence, effective communication and interpersonal skills.

As a business coach, Gina helps companies operate more efficiently and effectively by creating atmospheres that promote inner wellness and growth. She works to help businesses create and execute plans to eliminate work performance distractions that arise from destructive workplace politics, organizational transitions and low morale.

Gina was named one of the 2008 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know in East Central Illinois by the Working Women’s Expo. Additionally, she appears bi-weekly on the WIXY 100.3 Holstein & Co morning show to answer relationship questions and has been featured on WCIA News. She is also a member of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and C-U Networking Group.

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Gina's Thoughts

"It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger, but then I'll admit I'm just the same as I was Now don't you understand That I'm never changing who I am"

When I hear the above words (from It's Time by Imagine Dragons), I feel a surge of energy raise from my stomach, shoot into my chest and land in my face, triggering a smile that lasts beyond the length of the song...

Gina's Thoughts

Maybe it's a friend who "gets you" without you saying a word. Maybe it's a co-worker who effortlessly spreads positive energy each time he smiles. Maybe it's a neighbor whose life you swear should be featured on a comedy show. Maybe it's a colleague who takes time out of her busy schedule to email and ask, "How are things with you?". Maybe it's a family member who can't wait to hug you when you walk through the door. Maybe it's a ......

Gina's Thoughts

Do you ever feel as if you spend too much time in your head and out of the moment? I do. It happens while I am conversing, while I am driving, while I am putting on make-up, while I am walking my dogs...oh the list could go on and on.

Yep, there are many times that I am out of the moment and into my thoughts. Ugh! My mind seems to naturally wander out of the present and back to the past or into the future. However, living in the past and/or the future doesn't help me or anyone around me...

Gina's Thoughts

At times, life can feel like a series of upsets. Big upsets, little upsets and in-between upsets. Some upsets (ie death, tragedies) deserve our attention and others (see below) do not. Today, as part of my music and life lessons series, I am focusing on what to do about those things that are upsetting, but not worthy of our attention. You know what I mean, petty but real things such as: people gossiping, people engaging in messy workplace politics, people taking a long, long time to make seemingly small decisions...

Gina's Thoughts

Act with my head or act with my heart? This is a dilemma I often face. The song I have chosen to highlight today, "Good Intentions" by Toad the Wet Sprocket, reminds me to act according to both my head and my heart, rather than one or the other.

This song also reminds me that there are no absolutes in life, and even with good intentions, I can (and do) make poor choices. During such times, I do my best to stay in the moment, feel the feelings and own my behaviors...

Gina's Thoughts

Music helps me.... it helps me a lot. Alternative, rock, country, pop, instrumental, electronic, rap..... I like it all. Different songs help me in different ways. Some songs cheer me up while other songs help me believe in myself. Some songs inspire me to face my fears and give me the courage to grow. Still other songs express and validate the discomfort and pain I feel during trying times.

Since music has been (and still is) a powerful force in my life, I have decided to start a blog section about music and life...

Gina's Thoughts

Throughout the last three years, I have worked very hard to better manage my response(s) to negative life situations, negative people and negative things. As I wrote in my previous blog, looking for good things, and posting my findings on twitter, have both helped me counterbalance negativity with positivity. However, I have also utilized a few other techniques to directly deal with a host of negative issues. Listed below are five steps that have effectively helped me deal with negativity...